Adjustable carrying strap

ABSTRACT

A pair of straps are arranged to form a carrying handle having relatively narrow opposite ends for connection to an article such as a camera. Each strap has a portion frictionally embraced by a loop secured to the other so as to space the straps apart in substantially edge-to-edge relationship so that the handle has a relatively wide intermediate portion. Each strap is slidable through the loop embracing it for adjusting the length of the handle.

United States Patent 1 1 A I A 1 3,790,049 I Boha nec Feb. 5, 1974ADJUSTABLE CARRYING STRAP [76] Inventor: August Bohanec, 44 N. Mentor 'mExam'7er Gerald Forlenza Ave" Pasadena Cant 91 101 AsszstqntExammer-Kenneth Noland 1 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Christie, Parker &Hale [22] Filed: May 8, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 250,971

57 I ABSTRACT 52 us. c|..[. 224/45 P 224/5 v A P of Straps are arrangedto form a carrying 51 Int. Cl. AlSc 11/38 dle having relatively narrowOpposite ends for connec- [58] Field of Search 224/5 N 5 P 5 S 5 V 5 BCtion to an article such as a camera. Each strap has a 224/5 Z 45 P S i52 portion frictionally embraced by a loop secured to the other so as tospace the straps apart in substantially 56] References Citededge-to-edge relationship so that the handle has a rela- UNITED STATESPATENTS t1vely wide intermediate port on. Each strap 1s slidable throughthe loop embracing it for ad usting the length 2,291,089 7/1942 Okun 22455 f the handle p I FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 812,150 8/1951Germany 150 521 5 2 Drawlng F'gures ADJUSTABLE CARRYING STRAP BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention In general, this inventionrelates to carrying handles for articles such as cameras. In particular,it relates to carrying handles that are adjustable in length.

2. Description of the Prior Art Double strap handles are known that areadjustable in length. Generally, a longitudinally extending portion ofthe flat surface of one strap overlies a similar portion of the other.Accordingly, the handles have a uniform width throughout their length.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION opposite end. Accordingly, when the relativelywide intermediateportion is wrapped around a persons neck and arelatively heavy article like a camera attached to the handle hangs infront of his chest, the pressure exerted against his neck is distributedand therefore he is more comfortable. A first loop is securedto thefirst strap and frictionally embraces the second strap. A second loop issecured to the second strap and frictionally embraces the first strap.Each strap is slidable through the loop embracing it for adjusting thelength of the handle. i

A feature of the handle resides in the fact that the handle, in use,does not change from a desired length to which it has been adjusteddespite the relatively strongpull exerted by the weight 'of the heavycamera.

Preferably, each loop is pivotally movable relative to the'strap towhich it is attached. In adjusting the handle, a loop is oriented inafirst position and the strap which it embraces is pulled in a desireddirection. In

this first position, an axis defined by the loop is parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the portion ofthe strap to .which it is attached.In use, the pullexerted by the camera on each strap tends to pivot eachloop away from the first position and abinding effect is produced whicheliminates undesired changes in length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of acamera and an adjustable carrying handle for it, the handle embodyingthe present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a planview 'of an intermediate portion of the handle. I

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A carrying handle 1 embodying this invention isflexible and, in use, assumes a generally downwardly open- .a portion ofthe face '18.

his waist and chest where, in use, a camera 9 hangs from the handle.

The strap 5 has an elongatedflat face 13, a portion of which, in use,overlies the back of a persons neck. An elongated marginal edge 15bounds the flat face 13 and an opposite flat face 17 of the strap 5.Similarly, the strap has opposite flat faces 18 and 19, each bounded byan elongated marginal edge 21.

A loop 23 secured to the strap 5 adjacent the terminal end of the fishhook frictionally embraces a portion of the strap 7. Preferably, theloop 23 is a web piece folded in a horseshoe-shaped configuration.Preferably, a buckle 25 secures the tips of the horseshoe to the strap5. In this arrangement, the loop 23 is pivotally movable relative to thestrap 5. The loop 23 orients the portion of the strap embraced by it sothat the face 18 of that portion is substantially coplanar with theportion of the face 13 .to which the loop 23 is secured. I-Iowever,preferably, these two portions are not exactly coplanar. Instead, theedge 15 has a portion overlaying Similarly, a loop 27 secured to 'thestrap 7 frictionally embraces a portion of the strap 5.

Preferably, connectors 30 and 31 are secured to straps S and 7 atopposite ends of the'handle. The connectors serve to' attach the handleto the pair of eye connectors 33 and 35 provided as a standard featureon many camera bodies. The connectors 30 and 31 shown in FIG. 1 embodyan invention made by me and disclosed and claimed in copending patentapplication Ser. No. 225,774, filed Feb. 14, 1972, and entitled" CAMERASTRAP RETRACTOR, now US. Pat. No. 3,707,109. Each connector includes abody 32 and a retaining pin 33 which fits through ahole in the body andthe hole of the eye connector and secures the connec'tor to the camera.

FIG. 2 illustrates the intermediate portion of the handle in an aspectwherein the handle is lying flat. As shown, the straps are held insubstantially edge-to-edge relationship by virtue of the loops 23 and27. And, the faces 17 and 19 are substantially coplanar.For this reason,the intermediate portion of the handle is wider than either oppositeend. Moreover, the straps tend to bow apart further widening theintennediate portion. This bowing occurs because theportionof edge 15embraced by loop 27 overlies face 19 and the portion of edge 21 embracedby loop 23 overlies face 13.

Each strap is slidable through the loop embracing it for adjustingthelength of the handle. In adjusting the tion. Next, the other loop isso oriented and the other strap is pulled in the opposite direction. Inthis first position, an axis defined by the loop is parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the portion of thestrap to which it is attached. Inuse, the pull exerted by the camera on each strap tends to pivot eachloop away from the first position and a binding effect is produced whicheliminates undesired changes in length.

Preferably, each strap and the web pieces forming the loops are made ofmaterials that facilitate sliding the straps through the loops. Forexample, leather straps and leather web pieces are satisfactory.However, preferably, both of the straps and the web pieces are made ofpolymeric material having a plasticizer therein. The plasticizers tendto exude to the surface on v a continuous basis and make the surfacerelatively slippery.

I claim:

1. An adjustable carrying handle for an article, which comprises:

first and second flexible straps each having an elongated, flat facebounded by a longitudinal marginal edge, a portion of each strap formingan opposite end of the handle for connection to the article; and

means for spacing the straps in substantially edge-toedge relationshipalong a portion of their length to form an intermediate portion of thehandle which is wider than either opposite end, the means comprising afirst loop secured to the first strap and frictionally embracing aportion of the second strap and a second loop secured to the secondstrap and frictionally embracing a portion of the first strap;

each strap being slidable through the loop embracing it for adjustingthe length of the handle; and

the first loop being pivotally movable about an axis perpendicular tothe fiat face of the first strap and wherein, while the first loop isheld in a first position, it is relatively. easy to slide the secondstrap through the first loop and, while the first loop is not so held,it is relatively difficult to slide the second strap through the firstloop.

2. A handle as defined in claim 1 wherein each loop is pivotally securedto its respective strap.

3. A handle as defined in claim 1 for a camera having a pair of eyeconnectors, and further comprising means at each opposite end of thehandle for connecting a respective eye connector to the handle.

4. A handle as defined in claim 1 wherein the portion of the first strapwhich is frictionally embraced by the second loop has its edge overlyingthe face of the second strap and the portion of the second strap whichis frictionally embraced by the first loop has its edge overlying theface of the second strap, and the portions of the straps spaced inedge-to-edge relationship tend to bow away from each other and furtherwiden the intermediate portion of the handle.

5. A handle as defined inclaim 1 wherein each loop comprises a web piecefolded to define a generally horseshoe-shaped configuration and havingthe tips of 'the horseshoe secured to the corresponding strap.

1. An adjustable carrying handle for an article, which comprises: firstand second flexible straps each having an elongated, flat face boundedby a longitudinal marginal edge, a portion of each strap forming anopposite end of the handle for connection to the article; and means forspacing the straps in substantially edge-to-edge relationship along aportion of their length to foRm an intermediate portion of the handlewhich is wider than either opposite end, the means comprising a firstloop secured to the first strap and frictionally embracing a portion ofthe second strap and a second loop secured to the second strap andfrictionally embracing a portion of the first strap; each strap beingslidable through the loop embracing it for adjusting the length of thehandle; and the first loop being pivotally movable about an axisperpendicular to the flat face of the first strap and wherein, while thefirst loop is held in a first position, it is relatively easy to slidethe second strap through the first loop and, while the first loop is notso held, it is relatively difficult to slide the second strap throughthe first loop.
 2. A handle as defined in claim 1 wherein each loop ispivotally secured to its respective strap.
 3. A handle as defined inclaim 1 for a camera having a pair of eye connectors, and furthercomprising means at each opposite end of the handle for connecting arespective eye connector to the handle.
 4. A handle as defined in claim1 wherein the portion of the first strap which is frictionally embracedby the second loop has its edge overlying the face of the second strapand the portion of the second strap which is frictionally embraced bythe first loop has its edge overlying the face of the second strap, andthe portions of the straps spaced in edge-to-edge relationship tend tobow away from each other and further widen the intermediate portion ofthe handle.
 5. A handle as defined in claim 1 wherein each loopcomprises a web piece folded to define a generally horseshoe-shapedconfiguration and having the tips of the horseshoe secured to thecorresponding strap.